WESTMINSTER, CO — Every new product begins as a “what if,” with food scientists and product developers exploring what’s possible within given parameters. With the help of AI tools, R&D teams are creating new flavors and textures, sourcing ingredients, minimizing trial-and-error, and streamlining formulation faster than anyone thought possible. Two factors specifically — speed to market and innovation — are fueling the growing use of AI in new product development.
According to “AI in the Commercial Baking Industry,” a pulse survey from the American Bakers Association, 17% of companies are currently using AI, 11% have either tested or plan to test AI pilot programs, and 24% intend to adopt AI solutions in the next year.
Despite this incremental growth, TraceGains, a provider of compliance, quality, and innovation solutions for the food and beverage industry, identified a usage gap in the lab environment. To address this need, the company developed Formula AI, a digital workspace and innovation lab designed specifically for the food science community.
The platform combines real-world industry data with formulation tools, supplier and ingredient intelligence, compliance data, and collaborative workflows into a single intelligent, structured environment for food scientists and product developers.
“This is the place where food scientists can build some cool ideas and get closer to their finished product,” said Paul Bradley, TraceGains’ senior director of product marketing. “They can do that with more digital interactions and fewer physical iterations, which helps them move faster with lower costs before they start thinking about scaling up.”
